Heat exchange apparatus for dairy equipment



June 20, 1933. c. E. MITCHUM HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS FOR DAIRY EQUIPMENT Filed March 14, 1951 INVENTOR: 660/ 5. M/fmum,

A TTORNEY.

Patented June 2%, 1933 NHTE v CECIL '11. MIT'CHUM, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS HEAT EXCHANGE A'EPARATUS FOR DAIRY EQUIPMENT Application filed March 14, 1931. Serial No. 522,635.

The present invention relates to heat exchange apparatus, with particular reference to heating or cooling apparatus for use as a part of dairy equipment, and has for its pm- 5 mary object to devise an improved and more efficient construction for use in the cooling of milk after the pasteurizing process.

Accordingly, I have devised a novel and improved construction in which archamber is provided for the circulation of the heating or cooling medium, and the heat exchange caused to take place by the passage of the liquid to be treated through a plurality of tubular members extending through the heat exchange medium, in which operation the liquid is caused to be distributed and spread over the interior surfaces of the tubular members for producing as high a degree of efficiency in the heat exchange action as possible. In the form herein shown, for illustrative purposes, the construction comprises a casing having inlet and outlet connections for the heat exchange medium, and tubular members extending in parallelrelation through the casing, and having removable fluted elements at the mouths of the tubular members for effecting the proper distribution and spreading of the liquid over the interior surfaces of said tubular members.

It is also sought to provide a simple and practiccl' construction, the parts of which may be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, by removal of all parts necessary for this purpose, and affording access to the interior passages for a thorough cleaning of the same as conveniently as possible.

lVith the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one proposed embodiment of my improved construction, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel willbe set forth and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating a heat exchange apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 8 is a transverse section, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1; t

Figure 1- is an enlarged detail sectional view, showing a portion of the upper end of the construction, with one of the liquid dis tributing elements; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4c.

Referring now to the said drawing in de tail, this shows my improved construction as comprising a casing or drum 8 which is adapt-- ed to be supported either as a stand, or by means of hanger rods 9 in suspended relation, for which purpose straps 10 are attached toone end of the casing for attachment to said rods 9, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The casing 8 may be made of any size, and with as many heating or cooling chambers 12 as desired, for which purpose the interior ofthe casing is divided by one or more partitions 13, as shown in Figure 1.

Each of the chambers 12 is provided with an inlet connection 14 and an outlet connection 15 for the circulation of the particular heat exchange medium which is to be employed. Preferably also the casing 8 is enclosed within a acket 16 with insulation 17 to prevent any undue loss of heat, as well as to avoid undue frosting when in operation as a cooling apparatus.

The lower'end of the casing 8 is provided with a head 18, and its upper end also provided with a head 19, and each head formed with openings for receiving the opposite ends of a plurality of tubular members 20 extending through corresponding openings in the partition 13, as illustrated in Figure 1. Above the upper head 19 the casing 8 is formed with a receiving basin 22, into which the milk or other liquid to be treated is allowed to flow by way of a. discharge pipe 23, and in order that this milk or other liquid may be confined to sheet-like paths over the interior surfaces of the tubular members 20, the upper end of each of said tubular members is fitted with a cylindrical distributing element 24 having its lower end slightly tapered to fit removably into the upper end or mouth of the corresponding tube 20, and also formed with a plurality of grooves In the usual operation of the apparatus,

As the milk or othenliquid is discharged at the lower ends of the tubes 20, it is received in a circularba'sin30provided with:

a central discharge outlet 31 for connection to an appropriate discharge conduit, the

basin 30 being suspendedby means of bolts 32 and wing nuts 33 whereby it vis attached to laterally projecting lugs 34 at the lower end of the jacket 16.

as a cooling means for milk after pasteurizat1on,.as a part of dairy equ1pment,,any suitable cooling medium or agent, such as coldwater,brine, or ammonia gas or liquid, is

circulated through thecompartments 12 by means of the connections 14 and 15, whereby thetubular members 20 are maintained in a properly chilled state. In the event of a heating action being required, either steam 1 ;-or hot water or equ valent heatlng medium may be circulatedthrough; the said connections,. in the same manner. As-the flow of milk is caused-to take place, bydischarging the same into the upper, receiving basin 22,

tand allowingit to drain down through the tubular members 20, .themilk. is .efliciently distributed, and caused ,to, spreadv in sheetlike films over the interior surfaces of the, tubes20, thus providing a heat, exchange re-j -.-lation of maximum efficiency between the milk and the heat exch'angeinedium. This spread of the milk liquid is promoted by the action of the beads or; rolls 26, which extend inwardly. sufficiently to intercept any. drops of liquid not already. adhering to theinterior surface of the tubes. The milk'or other liquid is thus thoroughly chilled by the time. it reachesthe lower ends of the tubular memsu bers 20sinee nonev of the liquid. is allowed -to simply fall through the interior of the. tubes, or out ofcontact with the interior.

walls. fThecooled. milk is thus drained from the tubes into the bottom basin 30, and conducted off by way of the outlet 31.

eration,.because the liquid is properlydistributed intocontact with the heatexchange surfaces, in an .even, uniforrnmanner, re-

gardless of whether the apparatus is set. 1n true vertical positionor not. .The heatrexchange actionis also carried out not only more effectively, but with less travel of. the liquid than in many .formsof apparatus now An improved construction is thus, provided, which is not onlyof a more efiie1,ent but also economicalcharacter as regards its op-.,

.a readyvariationof the capacity of the particular units desired, and at the same time -requires-far less floor spacethan the other forms ofequipment referred to. Furthermore, an important feature of advantage is thesanitary factor of the construction, the distributing elements 24, as well as the bottom receiving basin 30 being readily removable for cleaning purposes, and their removal leavingthe ends of the-tubular members 20 open for easy access for cleaning purposes. It will also be observed that all necessaryaeration of the milk will be effected, since. there is ;a natural draft of air created up through the tubular members and around the .distributor elements 24, as induced by the warm condition of the milk which is being treated. This involves no undue ex posure of themilk to contamination from the outside air since the flow-of the milk through the apparatus is completely pro- .tected while such aeration, takes place.

The .outside jacket structure further increases the efliciency of the operation by the insulation afforded, and the unit as a whole isofan economical character to build, and correspondingly inexpensive to maintain.

WVhile' the foregoing illustrates what I now regard as the preferred form of construction for embodying the present improvements, I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly: fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is l. -A heat exchange device for dairy equipment comprising a chalnber having means for circulation of the heat exchange medium through said chamber, means providing a plurality of-separate passages through the chamber for the liquid to be treated, and longitudinally fluted and slightly tapered elements fitted r'emovably in the upper ends of said passages for distributing the flow of liquid tothe inner surfaces thereof, the entrances to said passages being also provided with. inwardlyprojecting means in the path of liquidflow for intercepting any free drops of liquid and causing same toadhere to the inner walls of said passages.

2. A heat exchange device for dairy equipment. comprising a chamber having inlet and.

outlet connections for the heat exchange. medium, a plurality of tubular members providlng passages through said chamber for the liquid to be treated, and means at the entrance to each of said passages for distributing the flow of liquid to the interior surfaces of said tubular members, each of said tubular members being formed with an internal annular bead adjacent its upper end in position to intercept the flow of liquid from said distributing means.

3. A heat exchange device for dairy equip ment comprising an insulated upright casing having inlet and outlet connections for the heat exchange medium, a plurality of tubular members providing vertical passages through the medium for the flow of liquid to be treated, means at the entrances to said passages for distributing the flow of liquid to the inner surfaces of said tubular members, and a receiving basin provided with adjustable suspension means detachably connecting said basin with the lower end of said casing beneath the discharge ends of said tubular members.

In witness whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

OEOIL E. MITCHUM. 

